For Preacher, DJ Caruso Wants Chris Pine, Shia LaBeouf, Alex Pettyfer

It’s been nearly a month since DJ Caruso announced he’s attached to direct Preacher, the long-stalled adaptation of the acclaimed comic series by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. In that time, plenty of fans and bloggers have offered their picks to play Jesse Custer & Co., but we haven’t heard Caruso’s thoughts on the cast — until now, in any case.

While in Paris promoting his latest release, I Am Number Four, Caruso told CloneWeb he’d like Chris Pine (Star Trek) to play Jesse Custer and I Am Number Four‘s Alex Pettyfer to take on the Saint of Killers, while his Disturbia and Eagle Eye star Shia LaBeouf — ubiquitous, I tell you! — is interested in portraying Arseface.

Judging from the video, which you can watch below, Caruso hasn’t begun any serious discussions with actors, but those three names may give you an idea where he’s heading with Preacher. For good or bad.

Published by DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint from 1995 to 2000, the 66-issue Preacher centers on Jesse Custer, a down-and-out Texas preacher who sets off on a journey, accompanied by his hitwoman ex-girlfriend Tulip O’Hare and the hard-drinking Irish vampire named Cassidy, to quite literally find God, who has abandoned Heaven and his responsibilities.

John August (Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) wrote the screenplay for Sony Pictures. Neil Moretz is producing.

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Comments

Tomfitz1

To be honest, I’d think Chris Pine would be better off as Cassidy, Shia LaBeouf as Jesse, I’d prefer Clint Eastwood as the Saint of Killers!

Joe

Is he serious? Alex Pettyfer as the SAINT OF KILLERS? Do we know for sure that Caruso’s actually cracked open a Preacher trade? I’m generally not a fanboy when comes to movie adaptations, but the Saint of Killers can not be adequately portrayed by a 20-year-old model, and no, it can’t just be chalked up to Caruso’s artistic license. Even if it doesn’t end up happening, the fact that he even said as much has officially removed whatever slim hope I might have otherwise had for this movie. Incidentally, of course Clint would be the impossible dream choice, but Chris Cooper would make an excellent, and more realistic, alternative. He also happens to be 59 years old.

Nimrod’s Son

Arseface is such a bizarre character for an A lister like LaBeouf to go for and I’d love to see it. And Pine definitely has the charisma and cockiness to be Jesse. But Alex Pettyfer as the Saint Of Killers makes absolutely NO sense. the SOK is supposed to be a grizzled middle aged to old guy, which is the point because his character is kinda washed up and tired after the war.
So no offense to Pettyfer (haven’t seen any of his movies so I have nothing against his acting), but casting a fresh-faced twenty something year old like him would be a ridiculous move.

Blarg

Yeah, a twenty something Saint of Killers wouldn’t be a Saint of Killers at all. Maybe they could get Ian McShane from Deadwood since Clint probably wouldn’t go for it.

Scribejsa

Maybe he had Cassidy confused with the Saint of Killers? I could actually see Alex Pettyfer being Cassidy.

GSN

These casting ideas are ridiculous. If you’re not going to make a hard R film, don’t waste your time and money.

Michael

Caruso MIGHT have been able to adpat a decent Y: The Last Man (MAYBE), but I wouldn’t trust him with this project at all. His comments on casting 1000 per cent reinforce that opinion.

JMC

After seeing Smoking Aces I think Chris Pine is better suited to Cassidy (plus it’d stop him being typecast as the “good looking” leading man)
Shia LaBeouf as Arseface I can see.
I always like James Marden for Jesse Custer

As for the Saint of Killers – would this be a great comeback role for Arnold Schwarzennegger?

demoncat_4

would be interesting to see the first two as Jesse and Alex showing what acting chops he has as the saint of killers. shia as areface that would be comedic gold but given how Shie has reached over exposure. though dj proably ment shie as a joke.. besides the studio will have the final say on casting should preacher ever get made.

Casey Atamatic

NO NO NO DAMN IT!!! The Preacher cant be pretty…. No pretty boy saint of Killers period!! R rated edgy…. Dont go Hollywood on it. At least three movies. Starr needs to be Ed Harris. I think he said Dude was the Saint of Killers cause he was sitting next to him… DO SCREW UP THIS MOVIE…. shameless rant from of a Preacher fan